Samarkand

Watching birds on the way to Tahta-Karacha pass

Samarkand

Tashkent – 300km

Early morning drive to the nearby Zerafshan pools which are only 15km outside the city for birding

Day 7

Tashkent

departure flight home

Transfer to the airport for departure flight home.

Брон

or see

Detailed itinerary

Tashkent

Beldersay

Chimgan

Tashkent

Bukhara

Samarkand

Tahta-Karacha pass

Tashkent

Day 1

Arrival in Tashkent

Lunch at local restaurant

Afternoon a short city tour of Tashkent to visit the old town: see Barak Khana Seminary, Tila Shaikh mosque and archives known for the exhibit of a rare copy of Koran written the third Caliph Othman. Later proceed to Chorsu bazaar, Kukeldash Madrassah.

Later transfer back to Tashkent. On arrival lunch at local restaurant in Tashkent . Transfer to the airport to catch a flight to Bukhara. Upon arrival transfer to hotel. Dinner at local restaurant Overnight at hotel

Return to Bukhara to have lunch at local restaurant or national house. After lunch you will have city tour in Bukhara to visit – Lab-i-khauz ensemble ("at the pond"), which is a central area surrounding one of the few remaining ponds surviving in the city Visit Madrassah Nadirkhon Devanbegi, Khanaga, Mogaki Attari mosque, Poi Kalon minaret and mosque.

See Madrassahs Aziz Khan and Ulugbek. Dinner at local restaurant

Day 4

Bukhara

Samarkand – 300km

Eco center “Jeiran” is situated 42 km to the SE of Bukhara town. It was created in 1977 for the breeding of rare species of animals and the study of their biology (Flint, 1982). It is managed by the State Committee for Nature Protection of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The ecocenter’s avifauna includes 257 species, 37% of all the avifauna of Uzbekistan. 63 species breed: 23 species are rare and 20 are in the Uzbekistan Red Data book (1983).

Later on transfer to "Tudakul" lake, which is located in the south of Bukhara and is a huge water reservoir and the huge shallow water flood of Amu-Bukharsky canal. On water reservoir you can watch a thousand of birds, among which there are many kinds of birds (migrants): Pygmy and Great Cormorants, Purple Heron, Great White Egret, Reed Bunting, Yellow-headed Wagtail, Spoonbill , Glossy Ibis, Marbled Teal, Ferraginous Duck, Small Sky Lark and many others water birds. Picnic lunch en route.

Later proceed to Samarkand. On arrival short sightseeing tour in Samarkand Visit Registan Square which was for many centuries the heart of Samarkand. See the three beautiful madrassahs: the Ulug-Bek Madrasah built in the fifteenth century; the Tillya-Kori Madrasah built in the seventeenth century; the Sher-Dor Madrasah, also built in the seventeenth century. Visit Gur Emir - mausoleum of Great Tamerlane. Overnight at hotel

Day 5

Samarkand

Watching birds on the way to Tahta-Karacha pass

Upon arrival at the mountain hills you will have boxed breakfast after which bird watching starts in the hills. Picnic lunch in the hillside and continue birding: Hume’s Short-toed Lark, White-throated Robin, Orphean Warbler, Red-rumped Swallow, Black Vulture, Bearded Vulture, Eastern rock nuthatch.

Afternoon drive back to Samarkand. Some more sightseeing to be continued in Samarkand Visit excavations and museum of the ancient city of Afrosiab. Later see Shahi Zinda necropolis and the grandest structure of Amir Temur’s times is the chief Friday Mosque called Bibi- Khanum. Dinner at local restaurant Overnight at hotel

Day 6

Samarkand

Tashkent – 300km

Here you will be able to see the following birds: Turkestan Tit, Night Heron, White-winged Woodpecker, Shikra, etc. At the foot of the Zeravshan ridge you can observe Rose-coloured Starling, Masked Wagtail, Rock Thrush, Great Rock Nuthatch, Grey-headed Goldfinch, etc. Lunch at local restaurant in Samarkand.

Later drive to Tashkent. Farewell dinner at local restaurant Overnight at hotel